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Moore downplays unbeaten mark, exclusive company

5/19/13: Rays pitcher Matt Moore talks about his seven strong innings against the Orioles and his eighth victory of the season

By Jim Hawkins
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Special to MLB.com |

ST. PETERSBURG -- Matt Moore prefers not to talk about it, but if he beats the Yankees on Saturday, he will become the fifth-youngest pitcher -- and the second-youngest left-hander since Babe Ruth in 1916 -- to begin a season 9-0 exclusively as a starter.

The only pitchers to reach 9-0 at a younger age were lefty Ken Holtzman, who was 21 with the Cubs in 1967, and right-handers Livan Hernandez (22) with the Marlins in 1997, Roger Clemens (23) with the Red Sox in 1986, and Jered Weaver (23) with the Angels in 2006.

"What that guy [Ruth] did and what I'm doing right now are two different things," Moore insisted Friday. "To be honest with you, it really doesn't mean that much."